Small group protests housing Central American immigrants in Syracuse

Some central New Yorkers, including Maria Thomas of Syracuse (at left), are protesting the possibility of housing Central American immigrant children in Syracuse

Ellen Abbott/WRVO

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Some central New Yorkers opposed to the idea of housing immigrant children who are waiting to be deported in Syracuse are protesting.

A dozen or so protesters carried signs that said things like, “Honk if you support legal borders” in front of the Sisters of Saint Francis property on Syracuse’s Northside during rush hour Wednesday evening.

The site is a location federal officials have looked at as a potential place to house some of the immigrant children flooding across the border from Central America in recent months.

Maria Thomas says the immigration crisis has been created because the legal system is in chaos. And she says she’s not the only one who’s concerned.

"People are upset, people are upset all over the country. We have a breakdown in our system, and it’s on many levels,” said Thomas. "And it’s not [about] a party. I don’t care about that. I hope no one brought political signs. It’s a country issue, it’s an American issue.”

Thomas and others protestors also expressed concern about how Syracuse would handle providing health and educational services for refugees if they were to come.

More of these kinds of protests are planned for across New York state this weekend, as opposition to housing these children spreads. This group will be back at it again later Thursday, at the same spot.